LL Cool J - Music on Google Play LL Cool J About the artist James Todd Smith, known professionally as LL Cool J, is an American rapper, actor, author, and entrepreneur from Queens, New York. He is known for such hip hop hits as "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock The Bells" and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as romantic ballads such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". LL Cool J is also known as one of the forefathers of pop rap. He has released 13 studio albums and two greatest hits compilations. His twelfth album Exit 13, was his last for his long-tenured deal with Def Jam Recordings. His latest album, Authentic, was released in April 2013. In 2010, VH1 considered him to be in their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. LL Cool J has also appeared in numerous films, including In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, and Edison.

He currently stars in an action role as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. LL Cool J is also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Spike. 1 $8.99 The DEFinition is the tenth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J, released on August 31, 2004 by Def Jam Recordings. Produced by Timbaland, N.O. Joe and 7 Aurelius, the album peaked at number ... 1 1 $9.49 10 is the ninth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J, released on October 15, 2002 by Def Jam Recordings. It peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200. LL Cool J and 10 hit a milestone in... 1 1 $8.99 G.O.A.T. is the eighth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J, issued on Def Jam Recordings. It was released on September 12, 2000, and peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. It was LL ...

1 1 $5.99 Phenomenon is the seventh studio album by rapper LL Cool J. After the success of his previous release Mr. Smith, the same basic principles are followed here, with several R&B-influenced tracks, and... 1 1 $12.49 Mr. Smith is the sixth studio album by American hip hop recording artist LL Cool J, released on November 21, 1995 by Def Jam. After the commercially disappointing 14 Shots to the Dome, it was a suc... 1 1 $5.99 Mr. Smith is the sixth studio album by American hip hop recording artist LL Cool J, released on November 21, 1995 by Def Jam. After the commercially disappointing 14 Shots to the Dome, it was a suc... 1 Busta Rhymes 0 Trevor George Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, actor, record producer and record executive. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes,... 0 RUN-DMC 0 Run–D.M.C.

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0 Bell Biv DeVoe 0 Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group that branched off from New Edition. It consists of three members of New Edition, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe. 0 Ja Rule 0 Jeffrey Bernard Atkins, better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American hip hop recording artist, singer, songwriter and actor from Queens, New York. Born in Hollis, Queens, he debuted in 19... 0 LL Cool J on Apple Music To preview a song, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to buy and download music. Biography Hip-hop is notorious for short-lived careers, but LL Cool J is the inevitable exception that proves the rule. Releasing his first hit, "I Can't Live Without My Radio," in 1985 when he was just 17 years old, LL initially was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy with spare beats and ballistic rhymes.

He quickly developed an alternate style, a romantic -- and occasionally sappy -- lover's rap epitomized by his mainstream breakthrough single, "I Need Love." LL's first two albums, Radio and Bigger and Deffer, made him a star, but he strived for pop stardom a little too much on 1989's Walking with a Panther. By 1990, his audience had declined somewhat, since his ballads and party raps were the opposite of the chaotic, edgy political hip-hop of Public Enemy or the gangsta rap of N.W.A, but he shot back to the top of the charts with Mama Said Knock You Out, which established him as one of hip-hop's genuine superstars. By the mid-'90s, he had starred in his own television sitcom, In the House, appeared in several films, and had racked up two of his biggest singles with "Hey Lover" and "Doin' It." In short, he had proven that rappers could have long-term careers. Of course, that didn't seem likely when he came storming out of Queens, New York, when he was 16 years old.

LL Cool J (born James Todd Smith; his stage name is an acronym for "Ladies Love Cool James") had already been rapping since the age of nine. Two years later, his grandfather -- he had been living with his grandparents since his parents divorced when he was four -- gave him a DJ system and he began making tapes at home. Eventually, he sent these demo tapes to record companies, attracting the interest of Def Jam, a fledgling label run by New York University students Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. Def Jam signed LL and released his debut, "I Need a Beat," as their first single in 1984. The record sold over 100,000 copies, establishing both the label and the rapper. LL dropped out of high school and recorded his debut album, Radio. Released in 1985, Radio was a major hit and it earned considerable praise for how it shaped raps into recognizable pop-song structures. On the strength of "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells," the album went platinum in 1986.

The following year, his second album, Bigger and Deffer, shot to number three due to the ballad "I Need Love," which became one of the first pop-rap crossover hits. LL's knack for making hip-hop as accessible as pop was one of his greatest talents, yet it was also a weakness, since it opened him up to accusations of being a sellout. Taken from the Less Than Zero soundtrack, 1988's "Goin' Back to Cali" walked the line with ease, but 1989's Walking with a Panther was not greeted warmly by most hip-hop fans. Although it was a Top Ten hit and spawned the gold single "I'm That Type of Guy," the album was perceived as a pop sell-out effort, and on a supporting concert at the Apollo, he was booed. LL didn't take the criticism lying down -- he struck back with 1990's Mama Said Knock You Out, the hardest record he ever made.

LL supported the album with a legendary, live acoustic performance on MTV Unplugged, and on the strength of the Top Ten R&B singles "The Boomin' System" and "Around the Way Girl" (number nine, pop) as well as the hit title track, Mama Said Knock You Out became his biggest-selling album, establishing him as a pop star in addition to a rap superstar. He soon landed roles in the films The Hard Way (1991) and Toys (1992), and he also performed at Bill Clinton's presidential inauguration in 1993. Mama Said Knock You Out kept him so busy that he didn't deliver the follow-up, 14 Shots to the Dome, until the spring of 1993. Boasting a harder gangsta rap edge, 14 Shots initially sold well, debuting in the Top Ten, but it was an unfocused effort that generated no significant hit singles. Consequently, it stalled at gold status and hurt his reputation considerably. Following the failure of 14 Shots to the Dome, LL began starring in the NBC sitcom In the House. He returned to recording in 1995, releasing Mr. Smith toward the end of the year.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Smith became a huge hit, going double platinum and launching two of his biggest hits, with the Boyz II Men duet "Hey Lover" and "Doin' It." At the end of 1996, he released the greatest-hits album All World, while Phenomenon appeared one year later. G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time), released in 2000, reached the top of the album charts, and 2002's 10 featured one of his biggest hits in years, "Luv U Better." With the help of producer Timbaland, he unleashed the tough DEFinition album in 2004 as his James Todd Smith clothing line was hitting the malls. "Control Myself," a hit single featuring Jennifer Lopez, prefaced 2006's Todd Smith album. His 2008 effort Exit 13 would be his last album for Def Jam as the rapper found work as a primetime television star, landing a starring role on CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles.

In 2013 he returned to recording, first making news with the track "Accidental Racist," his much-maligned duet with country star Brad Paisley. Another Paisley duet landed on LL's 2013 album Authentic, a star-studded effort with Eddie Van Halen, Snoop Dogg, and Charlie Wilson also appearing as guests. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Top Albums LL Cool J | American rapper and actor | Britannica.com American rapper and actor Alternative Title: James Todd Smith LL Cool J Jennifer Hudson LL Cool J, original name James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968, Bay Shore, Long Island , New York , U.S.), American rapper and actor, a leading exponent of mid-1980s new-school rap and one of the few hip-hop stars of his era to sustain a successful recording career for more than a decade. LL Cool J, 2002. Jim Cooper/AP Taking the stage name LL Cool J (“Ladies Love Cool James”) at age 16, Smith signed with fledgling rap label Def Jam in 1984.

Distinguished by hard, fast, sinuous rhymes and artfully arrogant phrasing, his first single, “ I Need a Beat, ” sold more than 100,000 copies. His first album, Radio, was released in 1985, the year he appeared in Krush Groove, the movie celebrating Def Jam’s origins. Thereafter he outlasted most of his competition by constantly creating daring, fresh modes of expression—gaining airplay with rap’s first romantic ballad, “ I Need Love ” (1987), and prefiguring West Coast rap with “ Goin’ Back to Cali ” (1988), recorded in California. Criticized by some for his crossover success, LL responded by teaming with producer Marley Marl for the musically and thematically innovative album Mama Said Knock You Out (1990). Carol L. Cooper Following the huge popularity of that album, the increasingly versatile LL moved into acting . In addition to appearing in a number of films, he landed regular television roles on the situation comedy In the House (1995–99) and the drama NCIS: Los Angeles (2009– ).

He also continued to record, with Mr. Smith (1995) becoming perhaps his most commercially successful release to that date. Though subsequent albums, such as 10 (2002) and Todd Smith (2006), generated the occasional hit single, in the 21st century LL found himself increasingly overshadowed by younger rappers. Nevertheless, he remained a respected figure in the hip-hop world, which lent credibility to nonmusical pursuits such as his own clothing line. The winner of multiple Grammy Awards in the category of best rap solo performance, LL hosted the awards ceremony in 2012 and 2013. LL Cool J | NCIS - Los Angeles Database | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Radio (1985) Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum with 1,500,000 sales. Bigger and Deffer (1987) In 1987, he released Bigger and Deffer which included "I Need Love".

Also featured on the album was "Go Cut Creator Go", which pays homage to the DJ. The album sold about 2,300,000 copies.[citation needed] In 1998, The Source Magazine named it as one of the top 100 albums ever.[5] "I Need Love" was the second single from LL Cool J's second album, Bigger and Deffer. The song, released in the fall of 1987, reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts, No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart. The single won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap – Single in 1987. "I Need Love" was ranked No. 13 on the 100 Greatest Rap Songs. Walking with a Panther (1989) LL Cool J's third album was 1989's Walking with a Panther. The album featured the singles "Going Back to Cali", "I'm That Type of Guy", "Jingling Baby", and "Big Ole Butt" and went platinum with 1,100,000 sales.

Mama Said Knock You Out (1990) As an answer to people saying that his music had become too soft due to the inclusion of several ballads on his previous album, LL Cool J released Mama Said Knock You Out. The album was fully produced by Juice Crew producer Marley Marl, one of the premier producers in the hip-hop industry at the time. Mama Said Knock You Out contained three singles, "The Boomin' System", "Around the Way Girl", and the title track, which he performed during an episode of MTV Unplugged. It was also featured in the film The Hard Way. The album went on to sell over 2,700,000 copies. 14 Shots to the Dome (1993) After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. The album had three singles ("How I'm Comin'", "Back Seat" and the strangely titled "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings") and guest-featured labelmates Lords of the Underground on "NFA-No Frontin' Allowed". The album went gold. Mr.

Smith (1995) LL Cool J starred in In the House, an NBC sitcom, before releasing Mr. Smith (1995), which went on to sell over two million copies. Its singles included "Doin' It" (that samples "My Jamaican Guy" by Grace Jones) and "Loungin" (that samples "Who Do You Love?" by Bernard Wright). Another of the album's singles, "Hey Lover", featured Boyz II Men sampling Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life," which eventually became one of the first hip hop music videos to air on VH1. The song also earned him a Grammy Award. Yet another single from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included vocal work by Foxy Brown. Phenomenon (1997) In 1997, he released the album Phenomenon. The singles included "Phenomenon" and "Father". The official second single from Phenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1," which featured Method Man, Redman & Master P and introduced DMX and Canibus. G.O.A.T.

(2000) In 2000, LL Cool J released the album G.O.A.T., which stood for the "greatest of all time." It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts, and went platinum. LL Cool J thanked Canibus in the liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration". 10 (2002) LL Cool J's next album 10 from 2002, was his 9th studio (10th overall including his greatest hits compilation All World), and included the singles "Paradise" (featuring Amerie), "Luv U Better", produced by The Neptunes and the 2003 Jennifer Lopez duet, "All I Have". The album reached platinum status. The DEFinition (2004) LL Cool J's 10th album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts. Production came from Timbaland, 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly, and others. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung," which peaked at No.

16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single was the 7 Aurelius – produced, "Hush," which peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 10. Todd Smith (2006) LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. It includes collaborations with 112, Ginuwine, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. The first single was the Jermaine Dupri produced "Control Myself" featuring Jennifer Lopez. They shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2, 2006 at Sony Studios, New York. The second video, directed by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings. Exit 13 (2008) In July 2006, LL Cool J announced details about his final album with Def Jam recordings, the only label he has ever been signed to. The album is titled Exit 13.

The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent.Exit 13 was originally slated for a fall 2006 release, however, after a 2 year delay, it was released September 9, 2008 without 50 Cent as the executive producer. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the Internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13. LL Cool J partnered with DJ Kay Slay to release a mixtape called "The Return of the G.O.A.T.". It was the first mixtape of his 24 year career and includes freestyling by LL Cool J in addition to other rappers giving their rendition of his songs. A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City.

NCIS: No Crew Is Superior (2009) In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. It is a single and is available on iTunes. The new track is based on his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. "It represents the collective energy in the room. I was so inspired I wrote the song on set." Touring and Collaborations Edit In March 2011 at South by Southwest, LL Cool J was revealed to be Z-Trip's special guest at the Red Bull Thre3Style showcase. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. The two took part in an interview with Carson Daly where they discussed their partnership. Both artists have promised future collaborations down the road, with LL Cool J calling the duo "organic".

One early track to feature LL's talents was Z-Trip's remix of British rock act Kasabian's single "Days Are Forgotten", which was named by influential DJ Zane Lowe as his "Hottest Record In The World" and received a favorable reception in both Belgium and the United Kingdom. In January 2012, the pair released the track "Super Baller" as a free download to celebrate the New York Giants Super Bowl victory. The two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond. Acting career Edit While LL Cool J first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"), his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. He continued to pursue acting, landing the role of Captain Patrick Zevo in the 1992 film Toys.[12] In 1995, when he landed his own television sitcom, In the House. He starred as an ex-Oakland Raiders running back who finds himself in financial difficulties and is forced to rent part of his home out to a single mother and her two children.

In 1998 he had a role in the film Halloween H20. In 1999's Deep Blue Sea, he played the wise-cracking cook on a top-secret sea base besieged by genetically enhanced sharks. He received rave review for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss, nicknamed "God" in In Too Deep. Later that year, he had a starring role in Any Given Sunday, in which he played Julian Washington, the talented but selfish running back on the dysfunctional Miami Sharks. Since then, LL Cool J has appeared in a variety of films, such as the 2002 remake of Rollerball, Deliver Us from Eva, Mindhunters, and S.W.A.T.. In 2005, he returned to television in a guest starring role on the Fox medical drama House as a death row inmate felled by an unknown disease. LL Cool J also appeared as Queen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday. He also guest starred on 30 Rock in the 2007 episode "The Source Awards" as the hip hop producer Ridiculous, who Tracy Jordan fears is going to kill him.

LL Cool J appeared in Sesame Street's 39th season where he introduced the word of the day, "Unanimous", in episode 4169 (Sept. 22, 2008) and performing "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (Sept. 30, 2008). LL Cool J is currently a series regular on the CBS police procedural NCIS: Los Angeles, a spin-off of NCIS (which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal drama JAG). He portrays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an ex–Navy SEAL who is fluent in Arabic and an expert on West Asian culture. The series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009 crossover episode on the parent show. LL Cool J appeared in a cameo role, where he is credited with being the product lead of Google's Gmail Tap, an April Fool's Day joke launched by the Gmail team, purporting to bring a Morse code keyboard to the platform. Other works and venture Edit Fashion LL Cool J worked behind the scenes with the mid-eighties Hip-Hop sportswear line TROOP.

In the mid 90's, he also helped to launch the clothing line FUBU. LL Cool J launched a clothing line (called "Todd Smith"). The brand produces popular urban apparel. Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community. Books LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules, an autobiography co-written with Karen Hunter. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is... published in 2002. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig wrote a fitness book, The Platinum Workout. His fourth book LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was co-written in 2007 with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy's Chuck D. Businessman and entrepreneur Edit LL Cool J started his own businesses in the music industry such as the music label in 1993 called P.O.G. (Power Of God) and formed the company Rock The Bells to produce music.

With the Rock The Bells label, he had artists such as Amyth,[16][unreliable source?] Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. Rock the Bells Records was also responsible for the Deep Blue Sea soundtrack for the 1999 movie of the same name. Rufus "Scola" Waller was also signed to the label, but was released when the label folded. LL Cool J appears in the music video "Mrs. Right" by Mindless Behavior. LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. The website accepts music uploads from aspiring artists, primarily from the hip hop genre, and the site's users rate songs through contests, voting, and other community events. Personal life Edit LL Cool J was born in Bay Shore, New York, the son of Ondrea and James Smith. He married Simone I. Johnson, on August 9, 1995 at his home in Long Island, New York.

The couple have four children: son Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith (born September 18, 1989) and daughters Italia Anita Maria Smith (born January 1, 1991), Samaria Leah Wisdom Smith (born September 15, 1995) and Nina Simone Smith (born August 8, 2000). In 2002, he threw his support behind sitting Republican Governor of NY George Pataki's bid for a 3rd term. In 2003, LL Cool J appeared before a senate committee hearing on P2P file-sharing, voicing his support alongside the RIAA, expressing that he just wished "music could be downloaded legitimately." In 2004, LL Cool J was seen leaving the Republican National Convention. He has also voiced his support for New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, during an appearance on the senator's local television show and has worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament (since 2003) in the rapper's childhood neighborhood of St. Alban's, Queens.

18 Rappers Who Put Their Government Name in Album Titles - XXL 18 Rappers Who Put Their Government Name in Album Titles By Dan Rys March 23, 2015 11:57 AM REDDIT Image 1 of 19 What's in a name? For most rappers, picking a stage name is one of the more defining representations of what's to come from an artist's career. Whether it's a childhood nickname or one gleaned from the streets, a take on their given name or an acronym for what they represent, stage names are important for a rapper's image and career. So when an artist uses their full government name to title a project, it's largely to make a point about its content, whether a more personal take or a story that hits close to home. Plenty of artists go the self-titled route, but when it comes to titling things after government names, the pool becomes smaller. There are plenty of exceptions to the rule, of course; Charles Hamilton, rapping under his given name, has released a slew of mixtapes interpolating his name, while both Gucci Mane and Eminem titled multiple projects after themselves.

Lupe Fiasco, on the other hand, has three albums titled after his own rap name, though none are his government name. Without further ado, here is a collection of 18 hip-hop albums wrapped up with an MC's government name.

Miseducation-of-Lauryn-Hill-featured rapper album government name 50 cent gucci-mane-state-radric-davis rapper album government name gucci mane jay-z-vol-3 rapper album government name jay z joell-ortiz rapper album government name joell ortiz keith-murray rapper album government name keith murray Lil-Wayne-Tha-Carter-IV rapper album government name lil wayne LL-Cool-J-Todd-Smith rapper album government name ll cool j Marshall-Mathers-LP rapper album government name eminem mike-jones-who-is rapper album government name mike jones queen-latifah-dana-owens rapper album government name queen latifah ll-cool-j-mr-smith rapper album government name mr smith The-Miseducation-of-Lauryn-Hill rapper album government name miseducation lauryn hill raz-simone-solomon rapper album government name raz simone redman-reggie rapper album government name redman saigon-troubled-times rapper album government name saigon soulja-boy-deandre-way rapper album government name deandre soulja boy sticky-fingaz-kirk-jones rapper album government name sticky The-Adventures-of-Bobby-Ray

-(Deluxe-Edition) LL Cool J — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm old school James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York), better known as LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), is a Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor signed to Def Jam.

He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently plays Agent Sam Hanna on the hit show NCIS: Los Angeles. Born in Bay Shore, New York, and raised between St. Albans, New York and Hollis… read more CD Review of Todd Smith by LL Cool J CD Review of Todd Smith by LL Cool J Label: Def Jam Released: 2006 Make no mistake. This is not LL Cool J being someone else like the Beatles were on Sgt. Pepper. This is LL Cool J being himself. You know, “Todd Smith.” The man has been around for a long time in the rap community. He’s had lots of hits, many of them mainstays that people still dig hearing. He’s done his share of acting, of which he’s done nothing of real note, save for perhaps that one TV show he was on for a while. But his silver screen work…well, let’s just leave that at “Rollerball,” shall we? (Ed. Note: How dare you slight his work in “Deep Blue Sea.”) Obviously, the man is best at sticking to the recorded form.

And as always, the ladies still love cool James. Funny how you can age in the rap world and still pull off that kind of schtick, when in the rock world you’re usually seen as a pompous old fart with a trail of old stay-at-home mom groupies. So, yeah, Todd Smith is the unveiling of LL Cool J “as himself.” Odd, then, that Smith decided to share each and every damned track here with someone else. This isn’t a back-to-the-roots kind of move. It’s more like an opportunistic extravaganza of LL Cool J “and a cast of thousands.” For years now, it’s been hip to share the mic with other artists on tracks, or whole albums if you’re a rap or hip hop artist. Well, this album should have been called With a Whole Lot of Help from My Friends. That’s fine and all that Smith got some buddies together, but it kind of deflates the “concept” of “getting back,” if you will. And really, by now, it’s time for Jamie Foxx to just give up the pop world. Ever since “Ray,” the guy has pimped himself into anyone’s album who’ll have him along.

He might’ve been groovy in that movie, but as “Jamie Foxx,” the guy just isn’t that interesting. So we can immediately toss away “Best Dress” here. If anything, it’s more or less just a variation on Jay-Z’s much better “Change Clothes” with Foxx singing such banalities as “Get your best dress on tonight / Once we start there ain’t no stoppin’ girl / This is for the girls with all those ghetto curls.” And come on, LL, even you did this better a long time ago with “Around the Way Girl.” But let’s keep the bus rolling. Everyone’s favorite no-talent pop star J-Lo drops in for “Control Myself.” It’s a surefire hit, and just as annoying as you could imagine. J-Lo does her best sexy sounding thing and Smith spins a rap whose rhythm and meter is exactly like Run-DMC’s “It’s Tricky.” Obviously, it’s tricky to come up with anything new these days. So can Mary J. Blige, an actual respected woman of the music world, save “Favorite Flavor”?

Yes, she does to a degree, but it’s actually just a pretty damn good track, with LL finding his good footing and hitting his classic old school vibe without relying on the album’s gimmicks to keep him propped up. Sadly, the same can’t be said for the Ginuwine-guesting track, “Ooh Wee,” which is a similar slow groover but in all the wrong ways. Trust me when I tell you that it’s another one of those songs that starts out with Smith going “Unh, yeah” that sounds like any thousands of other slow jam rap tunes that start off with the same two words. Yep, it blows. But then again, Smith can turn right around and deliver another classic punch with “Preserve the Sexy” featuring Teairra Mari. It’s all so schizophrenic. That schizo quality is what ultimately undoes Todd Smith. Too many guest stars spoiling the mix, and well, just not enough good tunes to keep the whole thing afloat. And besides, Smith already “got real” a while back on another album entitled Mr. Smith, so perhaps Todd Smith is just Mr. Smith in lite form. Who knows?

It’s sure to be a big hit with the fans and those into these kinds of projects, but it sure ain’t no Momma Said Knock You Out. Those days are long, long gone. LL Cool J — Listen for free on Spotify LL Cool J Play on Spotify Hip-hop is notorious for short-lived careers, but LL Cool J is the inevitable exception that proves the rule. Releasing his first hit, "I Can't Live Without My Radio," in 1985 when he was just 17 years old, LL initially was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. He quickly developed an alternate style, a romantic -- and occasionally sappy -- lover's rap epitomized by his mainstream breakthrough single, "I Need Love." LL's first two albums, Radio and Bigger and Deffer, made him a star, but he strived for pop stardom a little too much on 1989's Walking with a Panther.

By 1990, his audience had declined somewhat, since his ballads and party raps were the opposite of the chaotic, edgy political hip-hop of Public Enemy or the gangsta rap of N.W.A , but he shot back to the top of the charts with Mama Said Knock You Out, which established him as one of hip-hop's genuine superstars. By the mid-'90s, he had starred in his own television sitcom, In the House, appeared in several films, and had racked up two of his biggest singles with "Hey Lover" and "Doin' It." In short, he had proven that rappers could have long-term careers. Of course, that didn't seem likely when he came storming out of Queens, New York, when he was 16 years old. LL Cool J (born James Todd Smith; his stage name is an acronym for "Ladies Love Cool James") had already been rapping since the age of nine. Two years later, his grandfather -- he had been living with his grandparents since his parents divorced when he was four -- gave him a DJ system and he began making tapes at home.

Eventually, he sent these demo tapes to record companies, attracting the interest of Def Jam , a fledgling label run by New York University students Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin . Def Jam signed LL and released his debut, "I Need a Beat," as their first single in 1984. The record sold over 100,000 copies, establishing both the label and the rapper. LL dropped out of high school and recorded his debut album, Radio. Released in 1985, Radio was a major hit and it earned considerable praise for how it shaped raps into recognizable pop-song structures. On the strength of "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells," the album went platinum in 1986. The following year, his second album, Bigger and Deffer, shot to number three due to the ballad "I Need Love," which became one of the first pop-rap crossover hits. LL's knack for making hip-hop as accessible as pop was one of his greatest talents, yet it was also a weakness, since it opened him up to accusations of being a sellout.

Taken from the Less Than Zero soundtrack, 1988's "Goin' Back to Cali" walked the line with ease, but 1989's Walking with a Panther was not greeted warmly by most hip-hop fans. Although it was a Top Ten hit and spawned the gold single "I'm That Type of Guy," the album was perceived as a pop sell-out effort, and on a supporting concert at the Apollo, he was booed. LL didn't take the criticism lying down -- he struck back with 1990's Mama Said Knock You Out, the hardest record he ever made. LL supported the album with a legendary, live acoustic performance on MTV Unplugged, and on the strength of the Top Ten R&B singles "The Boomin' System" and "Around the Way Girl" (number nine, pop) as well as the hit title track, Mama Said Knock You Out became his biggest-selling album, establishing him as a pop star in addition to a rap superstar. He soon landed roles in the films The Hard Way (1991) and Toys (1992), and he also performed at Bill Clinton's presidential inauguration in 1993.

Mama Said Knock You Out kept him so busy that he didn't deliver the follow-up, 14 Shots to the Dome, until the spring of 1993. Boasting a harder gangsta rap edge, 14 Shots initially sold well, debuting in the Top Ten, but it was an unfocused effort that generated no significant hit singles. Consequently, it stalled at gold status and hurt his reputation considerably. Following the failure of 14 Shots to the Dome, LL began starring in the NBC sitcom In the House. He returned to recording in 1995, releasing Mr. Smith toward the end of the year. Unexpectedly, Mr. Smith became a huge hit, going double platinum and launching two of his biggest hits, with the Boyz II Men duet "Hey Lover" and "Doin' It." At the end of 1996, he released the greatest-hits album All World, while Phenomenon appeared one year later. G.O.A.T.

(Greatest Of All Time), released in 2000, reached the top of the album charts, and 2002's 10 featured one of his biggest hits in years, "Luv U Better." With the help of producer Timbaland , he unleashed the tough DEFinition album in 2004 as his James Todd Smith clothing line was hitting the malls. "Control Myself," a hit single featuring Jennifer Lopez , prefaced 2006's Todd Smith album. His 2008 effort Exit 13 would be his last album for Def Jam as the rapper found work as a primetime television star, landing a starring role on CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles. In 2013 he returned to recording, first making news with the track "Accidental Racist," his much-maligned duet with country star Brad Paisley . Another Paisley duet landed on LL's 2013 album Authentic, a star-studded effort with Eddie Van Halen , Snoop Dogg , and Charlie Wilson also appearing as guests. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Read More Show less

Question: Which 'rapper' has released albums entitled 'Mr. Smith' and 'Todd Smith'?
Answer: LL COOL J